Fusion: Poppy Door

Wow where did September go?  I am sneaking in one last summery card before I take out all of those leaf....pumpkin....Halloween....stamps.

I finally had to pull out sweatshirts for my morning walks meaning it's time for the bi-annual closet switch. The summer clothes leave my bedroom closet and get put in the spare room closet - not to be seen again until next May!  All of those wintry things then leave the spare room closet and head to the bedroom.  It's a merry dance done twice a year and it always amazes me what I move back and forth but haven't actually worn in years!  Kind of like stamp sets that I absolutely HAD to have that have never seen ink......but I take comfort knowing I am not alone in this dilemma......

I used both the sketch and the picture as inspiration for my card!  I love that splashy door in the photo!  Find something that inspires you at Fusion!

 Stamp Set: Painted Poppies (SU), Loads of Happy(Avery Elle)

Paper: Whisper White, Peaceful Poppies DSP, X-Press It Blending Card

Ink: Memento Black, Copics

Brick Embossing Folder

Inspired By....All the Peels

 

I was invited by my friend LeAnne Pugliese to join in with the Inspired By team this week.  I was delighted to hang out with such a wonderful group of artists. There is always plenty of inspiration provided by this team!

This week you can be inspired by the beautiful apple photo, the CAS sketch or the elegant holiday photo.  You won't have any trouble figuring out what inspired me!

Check out all the action at Inspired By.....!

 

Stamp Sets: Welcoming Window (SU), Thanks A Bushel (Lawn Fawn)

Paper: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, In Good Taste DSP, X-Press It Blending Card

Ink: Versa Mark, Memento Black, Copics

Friends....FMS505

 

One of my favorite things to do with red rubber stamps is to color them with markers instead of using an ink pad.  The look is softer and more subtle - the perfect look for a "thinking of you friend" card!

And here's Emma with one of her best friends - Mars!  They were both very happy to take home a blue ribbon and a red ribbon in the two events they entered at the Fall Horse Show!  It was a beautiful fall day to be at the fairgrounds!

Narelle's sketch could have you going in circles!  Have fun with it!  Join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set:  Shaded Summer 

Paper: Whisper White, Hand Penned DSP, Highland Heather

Ink: Versa Mark, SU Markers: Pale Papaya, Daffodil Delight, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green, Garden Green

Be Chill.....FMS503

 

We have had a beautiful fall so far but I can hear the clock ticking towards Christmas.  Time to start those cards!  The slim line look is perfect for a sledding penguin.

Meanwhile we snuck in one more boat ride on the lake this week.  Here are my two sailors headed to shore......

The Be Dazzling specialty paper makes a fabulous sparkly frame for my wintry scene!

I love Karren's slim line sketch this week! Always fun to break out of the A2 size! Slim lines cards come in many sizes - I made a mini! Join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Penguin Place

Ink: Misty Moonlight, Fresh Freesia, Just Jade, Grapefruit Grove

Paper: Whisper White, Fresh Freesia, Be Dazzling Specialty Paper, Penguin Playmates DSP

Fusion: Peach Birthday

I had a very peachy day yesterday after a bit of an uh-oh start.  My blog post scheduled to go live at 6 am posted but I did not get an email notification from Feed Blitz.  Upon further checking I discovered only 45 subscribers received notification instead of the 845 that were supposed to!

Immediate headache!  Due to my amazing computer skills I happily pay Feed Blitz to keep my blog notifications going.  I logged into my Feed Blitz account to see if I could fix the problem - ha!  I was clueless - time to call support.  I have used Feed Blitz for several years and have only had to call for help twice.  Both times I spoke with very nice guys who talked me through the problem step by step so I would learn "how to do it again if needed."  Whew so stressful!  So I brewed some tea, took a deep breath and called Feed Blitz support.

A delightful lady named Heather answered the phone.  She logged into my account and found the problem right away. I said before you start you need to know I am old and have questionable computer skills.  She laughed and said I had a very young voice and she could help me out.  I told her that my blog was a stamping blog just for fun and I needed simple directions.  Then she said.......

       " YOU'RE A STAMPER?  MY MOM'S A STAMPER! "

And that was that!  No worries -  she said she would resolve the issue herself and get those 845 notices right out.....and she did! 

I need to make another one of these cards using the "You're as Sweet as a Peach!' sentiment and mail it to her!

I was inspired by the sketch and the photo this week at Fusion!   I stamped some peachy flowers with stems for the background and then stamped the sentiment right on a peach. Join us and use what inspires you!

 

Stamp Set: Sweet As A Peach

Ink: Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Pale Papaya

Paper: Whisper White, Pale Papaya, You're A Peach DSP

Ahhh September.....FMS502

 

We celebrated the beginning of September with  Emma's birthday party - one last fling before school gets real and the weather gets cold.  She had a cheetah themed party this year and her amazing mother pulled it all off with wonderful cheetah print accessories and balloons.  So I may have been inspired by all of the cheetah colors when I chose the background DSP for my card!

Rain forced a very last minute switch from a backyard party to a local venue that was big enough for the wild animal bounce house!  It was a scramble but it all worked out.  Thank Heaven because that Willy Bear just adored the bounce house!

The leaves are turning here - just starting to color! The leaves from the Time of Giving set made the perfect trail down my card.

I love Cecile's sweet sketch this week!  Join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Time of Giving (SU), Easy Expressions (The Ton)

Ink: Memento Black, Distress

Paper: Basic White, Harvest Meadow DSP, Come to Gather DSP

Thnking of You....FMS102

 

I kept my card super simple this week because I made six of them this afternoon.  The cold hard truth is that at my age I send out a lot of sympathy cards.  But I have learned over the years how important a written note is at such times.  We all love the speed and convenience of a text or Facebook message but there is still something special about getting a card or note in the mail.  

My mother passed away a year ago this week and I remember how much it meant when I got cards in the mail.  She had a great long life and I enjoyed notes that shared a memory of her.  My daughter and I stopped by the cemetery Friday to deliver some flowers in a very special "vase"......oh she did love a Manhattan before dinner!  

Jen Brum has a wide open sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches - have fun with it!

Stamp Set: Many Messages, Hand Penned Petals

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Hand Penned DSP

Fusion: Bear Cake

 

I love cake - my favorite dessert!  So you know I was going to make sure there was a cake on my card after seeing that inspiration photo!  

We are getting the leftover rain from Hurricane Ida today....which makes me wonder how could there be any rain left?!?!  Our rain is cold though and I had to put on a sweatshirt and socks!  And just like that summer is over! Two days ago Emma and friends were enjoying ice cream on a sunny day in Lake George!

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The anchor and sailboat actually came from a stamp/die set that came in a stamping magazine so I don't have a name or company for them.  The SU set is retired and from a beginning stamper mini catalog.  I love the simple solid images in the set!

Our Fusion leader Karren Johnson finds the best pictures for our challenges. That is one fancy birthday cake in this week's photo!  I used the sketch and drew elements and colors from the photo.  Hope you join us!

My design also qualifies for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.....Birthday, Free, Balloon.

Stamp Set: Celebrate With Cake

Ink: Memento Black, Poppy Parade, Bumblebee, Seaside Spray, Blueberry Bushel

Paper: Whisper White, Seaside Spray

Fall Leaves....FMS501

 

In honor of the first of September I decided to break out some fall leaves.  I can't believe summer is coming to an end!  It sure flies by!  A few yellow leaves have already appeared here and there on our trees!

Meanwhile Miss Emma is enjoying her last summer vacation days....kayaking in Lake Placid is always wonderful!

Pretty soon those mountains will be ablaze with color!

Just a quick reminder to Crafty "T" whose name was drawn as my blog candy winner to email me at jcallahan1@nycap.rr.com to claim your prize!

Kim has started us off into a new century - the 500's that is - with sketch 501!  It's a great one - hope you still like to play at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Sets:  Love of Leaves, Art Gallery

Ink: Versafine Black

Paper: Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Shaded Spruce, Crushed Curry